Just a Family

As posted in today's New York Times.   Another blog entry here.   This hits close to home!   My two daughters are in mixed race marriages...and I'm proud of it...and them and their spouses too!   Aside from my own two daughters...we know almost a dozen other mixed race couples of that generation.   Maybe it's more of an east-coast, cosmopolitan thing?   I'm just sayin'.

Happy Birthday...and Happy New Year too!

A recent in depth database query conducted by Anybirthday.com suggests that October 5th is the United States most popular birth date.   It seems that on average more people are born on this day than any other.

According to the inquiry, an average of 12,576 people are born each year on the 5th of October.   It also suggests that some 968,000 Americans celebrate this day annually.

What makes this early October birth date so fashionable?   October 5th holds a not-so-surprising significance, as conception would have fallen right on New Years Eve.

Orchard Beach

It's been at least 50 years since I last stepped on the sands of Orchard Beach.   Why today?   My brother told me about a gathering of "old timers" from the south Bronx.   There were about 40+ folks there.   Aside from my brother...I only knew one other person.   He caught me up on all those that are no longer with us...including his brother and sister....and a few of the "dudes" from the "block".   Also got an earful about those who have been or are still incarcerated.   Still glad I went.






More about the history of Orchard Beach here.

Vote Yes...Drive No!

OK ladies of Saudi Arabia...King Abdullah will now allow you to vote...in 2015!   How will you get to the polls?   God only knows...'cause you still aren't allowed to drive!   Go figure!

The greatest country on earth?

According to NBC New's "Education Nation" broadcasted today, of the 34 developed nations...America ranks:

• 14th in reading
• 17th in science
• 25th in math

and...1/4 of 8th graders cannot read at grade level!

Source

Today was a good day!

My son-in-law's uncle and his family just relocated from Ecuador to Connecticut via Tampa.   His uncle was born in this country...but moved back to Ecuador years and years ago.   They left Ecuador with some suitcases and that was it (to the best of my knowledge).

They found an apartment here in my home state...but they lacked the basics; pots, pans, drinking glasses, table, chairs, etc.   We had an attic full of that stuff.   They came to pick it up today.   The look of gratitude on their face was beyond description!

To cap it off...I was looking at the late evening news well after they left with their "goodies" to learn that the three American captives were released from Iran.   Yes...today was a good day!

A History Lesson from My Girlfriends!

I don't think they can ever be elected President of the United States...but was scares the hell out of me is the number of Teabaggers who think they can!

The Pitch: Banning all religion!

An Australian television program named "The Gruen Transfer" challenged two advertising firms to create an ad banning religion.   The results were both creative if not brilliant!

Twenty nine eighty three & the "flip side".

That's how many innocent Americans died 10 years ago.   I watched the coverage today...channel surfing.   Tears flowed...especially when the youngsters read the names of those killed and ended their reading naming their Mom or Dad.   Some were only 10 years old.   I'm sure it would have been a proud moment in the eyes of the parent they lost in this tragedy.

But...there is a "flip side" to this tragedy.   While we lost 2,983 Americans on that tragic day...

• another 5,500+ American soldiers have lost their lives in 2 atrocious wars!
• 35,000+ US troops have been seriously injured
• 1,000+ coalition troops have been killed
• 8,000+ Afghan civilians have been killed
• 8,000+ Afghan troops have been killed
• 30,000+ Iraqi troops have been killed
• 850,000+ Iraqi civilians have been killed
• 150+ journalist have died
• 1,200+ contractors have died

Source

And at what cost?   We've spent over $3 trillion dollars on this fiasco.   That's approximately 1/3 of our total deficit!   What else could we have done with that money? Roads, bridges, jobs, schools, state governments?   The list could go on.   And where were all the Republicans and Teabaggers when Dubya gave the go-ahead on two UNFUNDED wars?   These are the same clowns that brought this country to the brink of default!   It makes me sick to my stomach!

But then again...this stuff always has!

Last Night's Republican debate in 45 seconds!

Reagan!   Taxes!   Reagan!   Taxes!   Reagan!   Taxes!

The pundits are now saying it's between Perry & Romney!   The good news...we can say goodbye to Crazy Eyes!   But, then again, that may not be good news!   Why?   It would be a hoot to watch Mrs. Marcus go up against the President!

And there are those who think she is Presidential?

"I don't know how much God has to do to get the attention of the politicians.   We've had an earthquake; we've had a hurricane.   He said, 'Are you going to start listening to me here?'   Listen to the American people because the American people are roaring right now.   They know government is on a morbid obesity diet and we've got to rein in the spending."

President GOD!

Genesis of the Judeo-Christian & Islamic Faiths

Genesis, the first book of the Jewish Torah and the Christian Bible, contains two origin stories, both of which are accepted as the creation of the world by today's Jewish, Christian and Islamic faiths.   In the first, God says, "Let there be light," and light appears. In six days, he creates the sky, the land, plants, the sun and moon, animals, and all creatures, including humans.   To all he says, "Be fruitful and multiply," which they do.   On the seventh day God rests, contemplates his handiwork, and gives himself a good evaluation.   In the second story, God creates the first man, Adam, from the earth.   He makes a garden in Eden for Adam, but forbids him to eat fruit from the "Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil."   Adam names the animals but remains lonely.   God anesthetizes Adam and makes one of his ribs into the first woman, Eve.   A talking serpent persuades her to eat the forbidden fruit, and she convinces Adam to do likewise.   When God finds out, he drives them from the garden and makes man mortal.

Source: LiveScience

2nd Anniversary!

Yep!   I started this little spot here in blogsville 2 years ago today!   Why?   Someone new entered this world on August 23, 2009.   Who?   My grandson that's who!   Happy Birthday Romell!

BFFs from Geneva, Switzerland!

The Background:
I live in a suburb within a 45 minute commute from downtown Manhattan (New York).   Tonight, around 5:00PM, I had to run a last minute errand to the local super market for a few odds & ends.   Typically, this supermarket's parking lot is insanity...so I always park across the street...as I did this evening.   Ran in and got what I needed and ran out!   As I exited the supermarket's parking lot and was about to cross the street to retrieve my car, traffic prevented me from doing so.   While waiting for an opening in the traffic...a middle aged gentleman...standing at the curb ask me (with a foreign accent) if I knew where to catch a cab.   He was accompanied by a woman similar in age and a younger fellow (early to mid 20s?).   I told him that he should go back into the super market and ask them to call a cab.   He looked at me somewhat puzzled/confused.   He held the ubiquitous plastic shopping bag in hand that appeared to contain a few items.

• Me:   How long have you been waiting here?
• Him:   About 15 to 20 minutes!
• Me:   Where are you going?
• Him:   We are trying to get to the train station to go to Manhattan.
• Me:   Okay...I'm parked across the street.   I'll take you to the train station (3 minutes away)
• Him:   Really?   How much?
• Me:   Nothing!

We cross the street...and get to my car.   The three attempt to get into the back seat of my 4 seater.   I ask that someone get in the front with me (I think they still thought I must have been a "private" cabbie!)   Twenty something-year-old jumps in the front passenger seat...and I pull off.

• 20 yr old:   How much?
• Me:   Nothing!   (20 yr old looks at me in disbelief)
• Me:   So where are you from?
• 20 yr old:   Switzerland
• Me:   Wow!   What are you doing here?
• 20 yr old:   We are visiting my parent's friend.
• Me:   How long have you been here (in my suburb)?
• 20 yr old:   Just today.   My parent's friend is sick and they wanted to visit her.
• Me:   So how did you get from the train station to your parent's friend?
• 20 year old:   We took a taxi from the train station.
• Me:   Ah.   Yes, there are taxis at the train station...but otherwise you have to call one to come and pick you up to get back to the station (or anywhere else in this great suburb of mine)!
• Dad:   (in the back seat)   Yes...my son told me that but we didn't believe him!
• Me:   Well in Manhattan...you can stand on any corner and "hail" a taxi...but not here.
• Me:   So do you speak German?   (I then go into the whole spiel about my daughter and German son-in-law currently living in Munich)
• 20 yr old:   No...I speak French....I'm learning German.   My parents speak French and German (and obviously decent English!)
• Me:   When you get to Manhattan...be careful.   Do you need a taxi when you get back to Manhattan?
• 20yr old:   No.   We are staying with friends and we have "subway passes".
• Me:   Good!

We arrive at my suburban "commuter station".   Dad leans over from the back seat and insists that I accept $5 to pay for the "oil"!   I insist that I won't take it!   20 year old insists that I do!   I insist that I won't!   I ask that they give me a free ride when I get to Geneva!   We all smile.   They thank me profusely and exit the car.   As I drive off...I look back and they are waving.   My new BFFs from Geneva!   No names!   No numbers.   No e-mail addresses.   Life is good!

Books and a Beach!

I had the opportunity/privilege to lay on a beach and read some books.   That opportunity doesn't present itself too often, so one has to love/embrace it on the rare occasion that it does happen.   Bottom line...I need a beach to read!

The Beach!
Where?   Doctor's Cave Beach, Montego Bay, Jamaica.   It's usually listed as one of the top 3 things to do/visit in Montego Bay.   Water is cool, refreshing and crystal clear.   Walk out as far as neck/chest deep and you can clearly see your toes underwater.   Beautiful! Not the toes...but the fact that you can see them so clearly!

The books:
The Help - by Kathryn Sockett
Disintegration...The Splintering of Black America - by Eugene Robinson

I really enjoyed both...the beach and the books!

More Crazy Eyes!

"What people recognize is that there's a fear that the United States is in an unstoppable decline.   They see the rise of China, the rise of India, the rise of the Soviet Union and our loss militarily going forward.   And especially with this very bad debt ceiling bill, what we have done is given a favor to President Obama and the first thing he'll whack is five hundred billion out of the military defense at a time when we're fighting three wars.   People recognize that."

More on the lighter side!

NobleWorksCards

Cain: Impeach Obama over DOMA!

The latest from the Pizza Boy

Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain suggested that impeaching President Barack Obama "would be a great thing to do" on a conference call with bloggers on Tuesday night, Politico reports. The former CEO of Godfather's Pizza predicted, however, that achieving such a goal would likely prove easier said than done. "Because the Senate is controlled by Democrats we would never be able to get the Senate first to take up that action, because they simply don’t care what the American public thinks," he said. "They would protect him and they wouldn’t even bring it up," Cain said, citing the administration's position on the Defense of Marriage Act as an impeachable offense."

Santorum - Same sex marriage destroyed the economy!

from Rick "Frothy Mix" Santorum:

"Letting the family break down and in fact encouraging it and inciting more breakdown through this whole redefinition of marriage debate, and not supporting strong nuclear families and not supporting and standing up for the dignity of human life.   Those lead to a society that’s broken."

"If you think that we can be a society that kills our own, and that disregards the family and the important role it plays, and doesn’t teach moral values and the important role of faith in the public square, and then expect people to be good, decent and moral when they behave economically, if you look at the root cause of the economic problems that we’re dealing with on Wall Street and Main Street I might add, from 2008, they were huge moral failings.   And you can’t say that we’re gonna take morality out of the public square, morality out of our schools, God out of our schools, and then expect people to behave decently in a country that requires, capitalism requires some strong modicum of moral consciousness if it’s gonna be successful."

Isn't religion fun???

Rick Perry...Church & State

Anti-gay Indiana state lawmaker accused in same-sex prostitution scandal

Email rendezvous entangles state Rep. Phillip Hinkle
Lawmaker calls encounter set up with young man on Craigslist a 'shakedown'

Emails shared with The Indianapolis Star suggest that state Rep. Phillip Hinkle -- responding to a local posting on Craigslist -- offered a young man $80 plus tip to spend time with him Saturday night at the JW Marriott hotel.

The emails, sent from Hinkle's publicly listed personal address, ask the young man for "a couple hours of your time tonight" and offer him cash up front, with a tip of up to $50 or $60 "for a really good time."

The email exchange is in response to the Craigslist posting in which the young man -- who lists his age as 20 in the ad but says he is 18 years old -- says, "I need a sugga daddy."
http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
The young man told The Star that they met, but that he tried to leave after the man told him he was a state lawmaker.   He said the lawmaker at first told him he could not leave, grabbed him in the rear, exposed himself to the young man and then later gave him an iPad, BlackBerry cellphone and $100 cash to keep quiet.

More here: Email rendezvous entangles state Rep. Phillip Hinkle

Enjoy life NOW .. it has an expiration date!

THE SITUATION:
In Washington , DC , at a Metro Station, on a cold January morning in 2007, this man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes.   During that time, approximately 2,000 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.   After about 3 minutes, a middle-aged man noticed that there was a musician playing.   He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds, and then he hurried on to meet his schedule.

About 4 minutes later:
The violinist received his first dollar.   A woman threw money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.

At 6 minutes:
A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

At 10 minutes:
A 3-year old boy stopped, but his mother tugged him along hurriedly.   The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head the whole time.   This action was repeated by several other children, but every parent - without exception - forced their children to move on quickly.

At 45 minutes:
The musician played continuously.   Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while.   About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace.   The man collected a total of $32.

After 1 hour:
He finished playing and silence took over.   No one noticed and no one applauded...   There was no recognition at all.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world.   He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars.   Two days before, Joshua Bell sold-out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100 each to sit and listen to him play the same music.

This is a true story.   Joshua Bell, playing incognito in the D.C. Metro Station, was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities.

This experiment raised several questions:

• In a common-place environment, at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty?
• If so, do we stop to appreciate it?
• Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this:

If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made...

How many other things are we missing as we rush through life?

The Teahadists!

Aside from Crazy Eyes...my other favorite is the Congressman from South Carolina...Mr. Joe "You're a Liar" Wilson!   I think I'll stay here in the Northeast!